Brian Eno, renowned for composing the iconic Windows 95 startup sound, has taken a bold stance by addressing Microsoft in an open letter titled “Not in My Name.” In this heartfelt communication, Eno urges the tech giant to cease its provision of artificial intelligence and cloud services to the Israeli military, citing the company’s recent acknowledgment of its support for Israel’s Ministry of Defense.
Eno’s Call to Action
In his letter, Eno expresses deep concern over the implications of Microsoft’s technological contributions, stating, “If you knowingly build systems that can enable war crimes, you inevitably become complicit in those crimes.” This declaration is underscored by his commitment to donate his fee from the Windows 95 project to aid victims affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Reflecting on his past collaboration with Microsoft, Eno reminisces about the project as a gateway to a promising technological future. He notes, “I never would have believed that the same company could one day be implicated in the machinery of oppression and war.” His words resonate with a sense of disillusionment, as he highlights the stark contrast between his initial hopes and the current reality.
Evidence of Complicity
Eno references a Microsoft blog post that outlines the company’s provision of software and services to the Israeli government, emphasizing that these tools are utilized in ways that have been condemned by legal scholars and human rights organizations as genocidal. He points out the troubling nature of the collaboration, which includes technologies with names that belied their lethal applications.
“Selling and facilitating advanced AI and cloud services to a government engaged in systemic ethnic cleansing is not ‘business as usual’. It is complicity,” Eno asserts, calling for a reevaluation of corporate ethics in the face of such power. He believes that corporations like Microsoft wield significant influence, often surpassing that of governments, and with this power comes an ethical obligation to act responsibly.
Solidarity and Support
In a show of solidarity, Eno commends Microsoft employees who have chosen to speak out against the company’s actions, acknowledging their courage in risking their livelihoods for the sake of those suffering in conflict zones. He invites artists, technologists, and individuals of conscience to join him in this call for accountability.
As a final note, Eno pledges that the fee he earned for the Windows 95 composition will now be directed towards humanitarian efforts for those impacted by the violence in Gaza. “If a sound can signal a real change, then let it be this one,” he concludes, leaving a resonant message that echoes beyond the realm of technology into the broader landscape of social responsibility.
